Reds’ Votto, not Rockies’ CarGo, wins Hank Aaron Award

ARLINGTON — Cincinnati’s Joey Votto began evening the ledger against Carlos Gonzalez in the awards department. Votto will win the Hank Aaron Award tonight for the National League, according to a major league source.

The award will be presented by Aaron an hour before Game 4 in an on-field ceremony involving the top NL and AL offensive players. Toronto’s Jose Bautista, who led baseball in home runs, is considered the favorite to win the AL award.

Gonzalez enjoyed a bountiful week in head-to-head competition against Votto, winning both the NL and MLB Outstanding Player trophies in the Players Choice awards. He also was voted Venezuela’s top MLB player by his country’s press.

Votto hit .324 with 37 home runs and 113 RBIs. His home-road production was nearly identical (18 HR, 56 RBIs at Great American Ballpark, 19 HR, 57 RBIs on the road). That likely pushed him ahead in the balloting. For the first time in its 12-year history, a special panel of Hall of Fame — including Tony Gwynn, Harmon Killebrew, Willie McCovey, Paul Molitor, Billy Williams and Robin Yount — joined Aaron and the fans in voting.

In his first full season as a starter, Gonzalez won his first NL batting title with a .336 average, while adding 34 home runs and 117 RBIs. His monstrous home numbers at Coors Field — 26 home runs, 76 RBIs — are expected to hurt him when the BBWAA NL MVP voting is announced on Nov. 22. Votto, St. Louis’ Albert Pujols and San Diego’s Adrian Gonzalez are among the strongest candidates along with CarGo.

Patrick, a third-generation Colorado native, is back for his second stint covering the Rockies. He first covered the team from 2005-2009, helping chronicle “Rocktober” in 2007 and also following the team’s playoff run in 2009.

Nick Groke has worked at The Denver Post since 1997, as a sports reporter, city reporter, entertainment writer and digital editor and producer, among other newsroom posts. He also writes regularly about boxing, soccer, MMA and NASCAR.